Blake Draeger gives a smile at the burn unit of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, where he is recovering from the lightning strike that put him in the hospital June 26.

Written by

Lauren Tubbs
Gannett Wisconsin Media

June 26 started as a typical day on the Draeger family farm in the town of Rib Falls. Chris Draeger was helping his father, Wayne Draeger, with some chores while Chris' son, Blake, rode his dirt bike in a nearby field.

Some gray clouds were rolling in and a hint of rain was in the air when, without warning, a bolt of lightning arced through the sky and struck 8-year-old Blake, throwing him from his minibike - though Chris doesn't recall hearing thunder or seeing signs of a thunderstorm.

He only remembers seeing his son thrown to the ground, and then sprinting to his son's limp body and ripping off the ...